Patrick Roy — with Ray Bourque, Bob Hartley and Joe Sakic — won the Stanley Cup twice with the Avalanche after the trade from Montreal. (Denver Post photo)

The Avalanche (somewhat surprisingly) didn’t practice Sunday and with skiing’s World Cup, bowl announcements and a lot else going on besides the Broncos to claim space, we went with just the advance box on the Minnesota-Colorado rematch tonight at the Pepsi Center. Adam Foote was the Spotlight element, heralding the honoring of the 20th anniversary team at the game.

Mike Chambers will pick up the coverage this morning, when there is a media availability for the 20th anniversary team in conjunction with the Avalanche skate, and then cover the game tonight. Here is Mike’s morning skate report.

I had done a lot on the 20th anniversary team and Monday night’s events in the past few days, though.

Here are the highlights and links:

— Sunday “NHL” “Column” on Alex Tanguay as the bridge between eras and on the other current members of the Avalanche who also were selected. That’s here.

— Keep scrolling and underneath that is the Spotlight on the 20th anniversary of Patrick Roy’s trade to Colorado.

— Catching up with Peter Forsberg — the Peter Forsberg — in New York on his way to Denver. That’s here. Plus the Avalanche briefs from Saturday night in Minnesota, explaining the identity mixup. That’s here.

— All Things Avs blog on the 20th anniversary of Roy’s final game in Montreal, recounting the whole thing and my coverage at the time. That’s here.

If you’re going to the game, have fun. The Avalanche/Kroenke organizations do presentations of these sort very well. And I’m sure Altitude will do a good job on the broadcasts and Mike Chambers will capture the spirit of the thing.

Predictably, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said Nikita Zadorov, 20, needs to play top-four minutes, which is why the 6-foot-5 defenseman was reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday. Sakic said Zadorov’s situation is no different than winger Mikko Rantanen, 19, who played the first six games with Colorado before being sent to the American Hockey League affiliate.

Zadorov has two assists in 11 games, and minus-5. He was a healthy scratch in three of the last four games.

“A little bit like Rantanen, I think he lost a little bit of confidence,” Sakic said of Zadorov, “and if you’re not playing PK, PP — the quality minutes — as a young guy, (they need to go down). We’re going to need him (in the future). For a young man in that position, he needs to play a ton and work on his confidence. He’ll go down and play as much as he can and keep learning that way. The only way you can get better is by playing a lot at a young man’s age.”

For now, Sakic does not intend to recall a San Antonio defenseman, and the Avs will take seven D into their seven-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Winger Alex Tanguay, meanwhile, is out for an “extended period” from a knee injury he suffered in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the visiting New York Rangers, Sakic said, who added the team will recall a Rampage forward. Center John Mitchell, who has missed the past three games with an oblique injury, is expected to return at Philadelphia, but without him Colorado has just 11 forwards. I believe Andrew Agozzino — who is on a scoring tear with nine points (five goals) in five games — is back from a shoulder injury. But Sakic did not specify who the call-up would be.

Lastly, in Sunday’s NHL column I wrote a segment on Rampage goalie Calvin Pickard, 23, whom I believe would help the Avs win and challenge Semyon Varlamov. I’ll link the column when it posts and you can compare it to what Sakic told me below.

“He’s going to be here next year for sure,” Sakic said of Pickard, who is 5-0-2 for the 5-0-3 Rampage. “We have no problems with our goaltending this year. The idea was for him to back up what he was doing last year (in the AHL) and have an MVP-type season which he is right now. For us there is no rush and he’s at that age where he needs to play a ton. It’s no different than a guy like Rantanen or Zadorov. He’s having a great year, which is tremendous for him and tremendous for us. He’ll be here next year, and as long as our two goalies are healthy, he’ll stay down there and keep playing like that.”

Erik Johnson’s signing of a seven-year, $42-million contract extension was the big news of the night, but the Avalanche also opened its exhibition season with a 5-4 win in overtime over the Anaheim Ducks at the Pepsi Center.

Alex Tanguay got the game-ending goal 1:18 into the three-on-three overtime and Connor Bleackley, Mikko Rantanen, Jack Skille and Nick Holden had the other Colorado goals.

Semyon Varlamov played the first two periods, allowing two goals on 17 shots.

The Avalanche lineup, typical for the early part of the exhibition season, was a real mix, and the veterans not in uniform Tuesday likely will be in the lineup Thursday against Calgary.

One of the takeaways from the game was that the new three-on-three overtime format will, as the NHL hopes, greatly diminish the number of shootouts.

“I think it’s going to be quite something,” said Avalanche coach Patrick Roy, who noted that the overtime included “a breakaway on one side, two-on one (and) three-on-one on the other. Obviously, it’s going to take a little time for everyone to adjust to it. They don’t want to see games going into shootouts, and I think it’s a nice way of doing it…It’s going to be entertaining for our fans, that’s for sure. It will be pretty to watch. For coaches, it might be ugly.”

Asked who had impressed him in the game, Roy mentioned the Avalanche’s last two first-round draft choices — Bleackley (2014) and Rantanen (2015). He also brought up Skille (goal and an assist) and Nikita Zadorov (two assists).

He said Skille, 28, who has played with Chicago, Florida, and Columbus, “is pushing on our guys.”

Tanguay said of the overtime format: “I didn’t like the shootouts, because I think it’s a coin toss. Seventy-five percent of the time the team that scores first, with only three shooters, wins the game. . . I truly feel that this gives an opportunity for the fans to make it very exciting. There’s going to be some two-on-ones, there’s going to be some three-on-ones. As you saw, we had a three-on-one, they had a breakaway on the other side and then we came back and scored. It’s going to be exciting and with the skill level we have, it should be a real good fit for this team.”

The Avalanche on Thursday announced days and times for next week’s on-ice development camp skates. They are 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Like Avalanche practices, they are free and open to the public. The Avs will introduce their top three 2015 draft picks — forwards Mikko Rantanen (No. 10 overall) and A.J. Greer (No. 39) and defenseman Nicolas Meloche (No. 40) — to the Denver media Monday afternoon.

I spoke to new Avs winger Blake Comeau on Thursday, and that story will be published in Friday’s paper and online. Comeau, who was acquired Wednesday in free agency, played with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay during his two partial seasons with the Calgary Flames in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

“Both those guys reached out to me yesterday, which was nice,” Comeau said. “It’s always nice when you have some familiar faces when you’re going to a new team.”

Comeau is also buddies with Colorado defenseman Tyson Barrie, a fellow alumni of major-junior’s Kelowna Rockets. Comeau is five years older than Barrie, but both are active in the Rockets’ alumni circles and grew up in the Vancouver area. Comeau spent much of his youth in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and has always been fond of the west. His parents live in Calgary and he and his wife have a 20-month daughter and another child on the way.

“I kind of wanted to be back out west,” Comeau said.

The slow season is almost upon us. I’m headed to the lake this weekend and Terry Frei returns from vacation Monday, and he’ll handle the Rantanen/Greer/Meloche interviews. Happy 4th, folks.

CALGARY — The Avalanche was 0-3 on the power play in a 3-2 loss to Calgary Monday night, and that’s been the norm in a season in which Colorado’s 13.5-percent success rate on the PP is the second-worst in the NHL.

“We had our chances, and I wish there was a recipe to it,” said Alex Tanguay, who had one of the Avalanche’s (even-strength) goals. “We just haven’t been able to produce all year on the PP. . . We try and move the puck, we had some looks, (Jarome Iginla) had the shot that went through the crease, it could easily have hit me or (Ryan) O’Reilly and gone in. You look at the chances, the way we battled tonight, yeah, maybe the power play wasn’t up to snuff, but I thought we played a solid gave and deserved the same result that they did, but unfortunately, there was only one team that could get that.”

Captain Gabe Landeskog, who had his 11th goal in 18 games, said the Avalanche’s two shots on goal on the power plays wasn’t indicative of the pressure quotient. Read more…

Milan Hejduk, who played his entire 1,020-game NHL career with Colorado, will present Alex Tanguay with gifts during the pregame ceremony. Here’s Tanguay going into his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game:

That included one shining opportunity early in the game, just minutes after Iginla’s unassisted opener 30 seconds in. O’Reilly won the puck in the Blue Jackets’ zone, then back-handed a pass from the corner to Iginla, whose shot went just wide.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The evolving game story is here. I’m on an early flight to Detroit on Sunday, another gameday, so I’ll make this quick.

The sweet sound of loud music in the postgame locker room brought back memories of last season on the road, when the Avalanche went 26-11-4 (identical to its home record). The music was blaring, nobody was hiding, everyone was in a good mood and excited about the next game. The Avs — who absolutely miss center John Mitchell — simply worked Buffalo at First Niagara Center, even though they were outshot for the 21st time in 32 games. Mitchell between Alex Tanguay (two goals, assist) and Jarome Iginla (two assists) clicked really well and the Matt Duchene-centered line with Max Talbot (assist) and Nathan MacKinnon (assist) were dominant in puck possession and forcing turnovers. Ryan O’Reilly set up Cody McLeod’s shorthanded goal and the Avs scored in every situation (power play, shorthanded, even strength, empty-net).

Colorado’s consistent pressure in the Sabres’ end and three goals scored off transition were the main differences. Really, the Avs beat the Sabres like they’ve been beaten too often this year. Colorado might have had more time in the opponent’s end than in any game this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bozak watches as Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O’Reilly, center, is congratulated on his goal by teammates Jarome Iginla, right, and Gabriel Landeskog during the first period of an NHL game Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn,. The Canadian Press)

An NHL dressing room is a two-section scenario. One is a public place, where everyone is on their best behavior, and the other very private, where dark stares and curse words surely abound. There’s an equipment-changing room and a suit-and-tie room. Media are only allowed in the former, unlike other pro sports like the NFL, and when you’re a player on a team like the Avalanche these days there is very little face time with reporters after losses. The guys undress down to their hockey underwear/sweats and quickly walk off into the private room. The Avs PR staff is good about getting requested guys to come back and talk to reporters, but even now that’s a touchy thing because, let’s face it, this season has turned into a broken record (yes, I’m a product of vinyl): guys are sick and tired of talking about playing better as a team and getting back into the playoff hunt. They’d rather say nothing. Can’t blame them there, but make no mistake, they are accountable when pressed in the worst of times. However, the best time to get the best reaction about the state of the team is after practice, when preparation to turn things around is made and a renewed optimism is fresh.

Captain Gabe Landeskog held a players-only meeting Sunday or Monday, after the 6-2 blowout loss at Winnipeg. Here’s what he told me after practice Monday: “Meeting went well. We handled it internally. We talked about a lot of things and I hope we react well to it. I certainly feel that, in the past when you have players meetings or whatever, guys come out hungry. It’s about any relationship with anybody in your life. You just have to talk things out sometimes, and that’s what we did. What we said, we’ll keep that in the room, but I certainly think we’re going to benefit from it. … We know we have the leadership in here and the experience in here to get back in the picture, back in the hunt and start playing well again. All it takes is to get hot and have a good month and all of a sudden you’re in the thick of things. We have enough leadership in this room to bring everybody together.”

CALGARY, Alberta — In the past seven games the Avalanche has been tied or held a lead in the third period, but is 3-4 in those games. Another blown third cost the Avs once again on Thursday night in Calgary, with defenseman Dennis Wideman scoring his second of the game late in the third and Sean Monahan winning it for the Flames 4-3 in overtime. The evolving game story — the first quarter of which was re-written in less than five minutes — is here. An updated version should post soon.

Avs coach Patrick Roy:

Avs forward Daniel Briere was denied a power-play goal by NHL officials in Toronto. Here’s what he said about the play and losing another late-game lead:

The Avs would have led 3-1 after the second period if Briere’s power-play goal would have counted. Available replays at the arena couldn’t substantiate the NHL’s ruling that Briere glove-punched the puck in.

“Apparently Sportsnet has an angle … the angle we had it was impossible whether it touched the glove or not,” Roy said.

Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla postgame:

“Tonight was our 14th (one-goal loss, including OT and shootout) and last year we were winning those games and the puck was bouncing our way and I thought we were managing our game better,” Roy said. “Right now it seems we’re losing those games and it makes a big difference.”

Jarome Iginla (12) upends Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) as they chase down the puck during the first period November 26, 2014 at Pepsi Center. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)

First off, happy Thanksgiving. Let’s think of the less fortunate in times like these.

Avs lose 3-2, on a late Bryan Bickell goal. I interviewed him earlier in the day, and told him to enjoy the goal he would score in the game, because almost every single time I interview an opposing player on the day of a game, they score a goal. I mean, it’s spooky. So, you can blame me for the loss I guess.

The Avs blamed the referees for the loss too. Patrick Roy and Alex Tanguay both verbalized their displeasure in the disparity in power-play time (almost 10 minutes to less than three minutes). Do I think the Avs got jobbed by the refs too? A little, yeah, but the best team won tonight. That’s the bottom line.

But the Blackhawks should have won. They were a rested, healthy team playing a team missing TEN regular players, one that played the night before on the road. So, congrats on a one-goal win I guess.

It just felt too much like the Avs were hanging on for dear life too often in this game, though. The defense just showed Chicago too much respect at the wrong times, especially on that Bickell winning goal. Nick Holden had a chance to take the body on Patrick Kane cutting in front of him, but let him keep skating and that led to chaos in front after he put a puck on net. Bickell was just given too much time and space on the rebound and that was that. Read more…

Alex Tanguay is likely to play against Chicago tonight. That’s the word from the team. He was a scratch last night with that facial fracture, despite flying to Arizona with the team.

The Avs say Erik Johnson will be a game-time decision for the game with Chicago. In case he can’t go, Karl Stollery has been recalled from Lake Erie and will play if No. 6 can’t.
Only four players were on the ice this morning at the Pepsi Center – Patrick Bordeleau, Jesse Winchester, John Mitchell and Semyon Varlamov.

The fact that Varly is back on skates is obviously a good thing. He took a lot of shots fro the three players, and looked good and mobile to me. Lots of side-to-side movement, lots of pushing off with the skates. He has been placed on injured reserve for the time being, however, partially to make room for Stollery. But if things progress the way they seem to going with Varlamov, it shouldn’t be too long before he’s back. At least, one wouldn’t assume. But wait, what happens when you assume things again?

The fact that Calvin Pickard is starting tonight is a nice reward for him from Patrick Roy. And, also, finally an admission from Roy that, no, Reto Berra isn’t playing too well right now. Roy laughed at questions Monday morning questioning Berra’s play. He’s not doing that anymore for the time being.

Mitchell skated for a while today, and then seemed to aggravate something at the end. He was hunched over in seeming pain, and left the ice right after that. No word on his condition moving forward, other than he’s still listed as day-to-day (aren’t we all).

I talked with Winchester the other day, and while he said he’s doing OK overall, he is still having problems related to the concussion suffered before the season. There are still some vision issues and things like that. It’s tough, and he’s frustrated by it. Just have to hope the symptoms lift.

Alex Tanguay heads straight to the locker room with a jaw injury after getting hit by an Alex Ovechkin shot in the second period Thursday in Denver. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

With the Avs totally banged up right now (nine players out), these are the newly revamped lines fans will see for Saturday’s contest with the Carolina Hurricanes:
Note: The Avs said this morning that John Mitchell also won’t be playing tonight because of an apparent leg injury suffered at Friday’s practice. Nobody said anything about him being hurt Friday, so this was a rude surprise today. That means the Avs will go with a complete rookie third line of Andrew Agozzino, Ben Street and Tomas Vincour. The lines:

Colorado Avalanche left wing Alex Tanguay (40) scores on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30), of Sweden, during the shootout period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Nov. 13, 2014. The Colorado Avalanche won 4-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK – I’m writing this blog on the last train out of New York’s Penn Station back to Syosset, N.Y., otherwise known as Long Island. That’s where I’m staying, Long Island, despite tonight’s game being played in New York City. Economics is why.
Decent New York hotel rooms run about $300-$500 a night right now. My stately room at the Long Island Marriott is $129 a night. Ergo, I’m on the train.
Nobody is drunk on this train, nobody is speaking too loudly, so it’s nice to be able to type in peace here. OK, just kidding. There are drunk, loud people all around me.

Amid this cacophony of inebriation, I offer the following sober-minded observations from tonight’s ice hockey game between the Avs and Rangers at the World’s Most Famous Arena (except, maybe, for that one in Rome):Read more…

Patrick Roy after the Avs’ 4-3 OT loss to the Florida Panthers at the Pepsi Center

The game story from colleague Nick Groke is here. Avalanche loses 4-3 in overtime, on Brad Boyes’s bomb on a 4-on-3 advantage. Colorado defenseman Brad Stuart was in the box for tripping, in what appeared like embellishment by Florida forward Aleksander Barkov behind the Avs’ net. In the third period, and also behind the Avs’ net, Stuart was tripped by Tomas Fleishchmann, an obvious infraction that was not called. Which partly explains why the Avs’ dressing room was like a morgue postgame. The Avs fall to 1-4-2 and nobody was happy about the result or referees Brad Meier and Ian Walsh.

The following is what is not in the game story.

“I’m not going to say much about it (because) I’ll get myself in trouble,” Stuart said. “But I don’t agree with it, I’ll say that much — especially after I got hauled down in the third, right in front of him and he doesn’t call it.”

Avs center Matt Duchene also pleaded the fifth.

“I’d like to say stuff but I’m not going to,” he said. “It’s frustrating.”Read more…

Patrick Roy’s getting freaky. The Avalanche didn’t practice Friday. And they only worked through a basic pre-game skate before their home-opener later Saturday against the Wild. But Roy shuffled his line pairings — again.

On Friday, Roy said he would trot out a lineup that looked a lot like how the Avs played the third period Thursday in a blowout loss at Minnesota. The Avs coach said he wanted Jarome Iginla opposite Ryan O’Reilly on a top line centered by Matt Duchene and a second line with Nathan MacKinnon centering Alex Tanguay and Gabe Landeskog.

But forget all that.

On Saturday, he changed his mind completely. The Avs, instead will play like this in their second game of the season:

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.